I am not growing anything on the allotment during the winter.
I hope to use the time to make new raised beds and have a good tidy up.
The shed could do with a good sort out .
We have very soggy ground during the winter and a big rabbit problem,that along with being on the top of a hill so very exposed puts me off growing.
I like to look at all the catalogues and dream of how perfect it all will be come the spring. ;D
What do you do with your allotment in the winter??
I am with you on this one Betula. Most of our raised beds are covered up for the winter. I dont grow anything but I have some leeks sprouts, parsnips and cabbages planted during the summer months. I have some lettuce in the greenhouse doing very well!
I welcome the break from the allotment during these months. For me its a time to plan for next year.
Duke :)
we still have sprouts, various types of winter cabbage, leeks, calabrese still producing side shoots, a romanesco.. beetroot to come out for storage, 2 beds are taken up with o/w onions, garlic, shallots with endive and chicories in between..some of our beds are covered up, but we have to go visit the chooks every day between 4 of us so there's always something to do..the poly is another thing, there are o/w lettuce, o/w peas, winter spring onions, white icicle radish and lots of cuttings and sweet peas in there ;D
Betula like you I don't grow much, if anything, on the plot during the winter when I'm very much an armchair gardener! :)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/14/winter-gardening-smart-way
Not much here either, but that is due to brassica failure big time. There are some red cabbages and curly kale, spinach and of course purple sprouting broc. Then there's parsnips, carrots, beetroot, winter lettuce (sooo lovely), rocket, beetroot, parsley- flat and curly. That seems lots now I've typed it. Sadly no sprouts or cabbage though. I agree, it is nice to take stock and have a rethink about what to do next spring. I still have marigolds flowering now, which cheer me up no end. ;D
I do a bit of everything: tuck some cleared beds up for the winter with a thick mulch of manure, have some overwintering alliums and brassicas, keep some summer crops going such as chard and hardy saladings and the root veg, and do some clearance and renovation work on the half plot so it will all be ready for spring........ ;D
This is what my main plot looked like yesterday...on the left you can see the manured beds in the foreground, some swede, caulis and kale under the mesh tunnel, plus the bigger brassicas taking a chance with no net........... :o On the right, herbs, netted brassicas, lettuces, chard and celery still going, two empty manured beds then the salad onions and leeks still going strong...
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/Plot%2098/nov09015.jpg)
....and here is the half plot next door we are gradually sorting out...some beds are manured, some are waiting to be dug over, and two beds are now planted up with overwintering alliums under the wire mesh so the foxes don't dig them up!
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/Plot%2097b/nov09016.jpg)
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/Plot%2097b/nov09009.jpg)